AMARU, ANDEAN WEAVERS

12 Days / 11 Nights

This is a different trip to Peru, where you can get close to people and experience exchange and mutual learning. The Andes are home to hundreds of indigenous communities that are worthy heirs of ancestral traditions.

Share a moment of your life and meet one of its largest cultural heritages, weaving. On this route you will stay two nights in communities on Lake Titicaca and the heights of Pisac. Also you will visit the main attractions of the area such as Cusco, Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu of course.

Andahuaylillas church

Amaru community

Cusco’s procession

Traditional pots

Uros’ woman

Uros islands

Itinerary

DAY 01: ARRIVAL IN LIMA

Arrival in Lima. We will pick you up at the airport and transfer to your hotel. We will welcome you and deliver the necessary documentation, and we will do a detailed review of the program.
Overnight in Lima

DAY 02: LIMA – CUSCO FLIGHT. FREE DAY FOR ACCLIMATIZATION

We will take you to the airport for local flight to Cusco (3,400 m above the sea level). Upon arrival you will be met by our staff member and transfer to your hotel were you will rest to acclimate. We will have a free afternoon to independently explore Cusco at your own pace. The ancient Inca capital, Qosqo (the center of the world) was a sacred city of stone palaces and temples. Its streets and roads design reflected the technology, organization of the Inca Cosmo vision. Cusco was built under this city houses, colonial churches and plazas. It is a unique place to understand the Inca culture but also the cultural shock, syncretism and heritage of the mestizo baroque. Our recommendation is to have light meals, drink plenty of water or coca or muña tea, to attenuate the symptoms of altitude sickness (soroche).
Overnight in Cusco

DAY 03: CUSCO CITY AND SURROUNDINGS

Today we will leave the city heading to Sacsayhuaman, an imposing Inca building that dominates Cusco from the north heights of the city. We will visit Puca Pucara, Tambomachay And Q’enko;all these archaeological sites will help us understand the history and Inca Cosmo vision as they are related to the cults of the Inca state and the astronomical observation, critical to the development of the agricultural economy in the Andes. In our way back, we will visit two important sites of the city; The Cathedral and the Qoricancha Temple of the Sun which is the true sacred center of the ancient Inca capital.
Overnight in Cusco

DAY 04: AMARU COMMUNITY

The heights of Cusco shelter, for centuries, hundreds of Quechua communities engaged in farming or ranching. Their current structure dates back to colonial times, when the Inca ayllus (community) were reorganized by the Viceroyalty of Peru. The oral tradition and cultural resistance have allowed them to preserve centuries of wisdom and Andean traditions, sometimes hidden in other forms. Each community has its own history, which is reflected in their attire and their art, dances and agricultural techniques, celebrations and rituals.

The Amaru community is located 30 minutes from Pisaq in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. This peasant indigenous community has kept ancestral techniques that you can discover guided by the villagers who have organized themselves to get additional income and fair value to their resources. The Amaru Association of Community Base Tourism consists of 25 families that have being working for 10 years in the rescue and preservation of local culture and biodiversity. Part from the revenue that the association obtains is given to the community to improve roads and other projects that they see fit.
We will participate with the residents of the community in different activities according to our interest: Traditional Agriculture, weaving workshop or natural medicine

Our participation as visitors will directly benefit the people who interact with us in daily tasks, and indirectly, we will be encouraging the conservation of the environment, the biodiversity of native flora and fauna, and the recovery of traditional arts and techniques, which reinforces the people identity and provides alternatives for sustainable development.
We will have a delicious dinner with local and organic foods. Then we can continue the weaving workshop or participate in other activities such as reforestation, traditional agriculture, walking around the village.
Overnight in a local home

DAY 05: AMARU - PISAQ. TRANSFER TO OLLANTAYTAMBO

After a good breakfast we will hike to the archaeological ruins of Pisaq crossing fields and crops and enjoying an incredible view of the Sacred Valley. Our hosts, the Amaru community, will reach us with a delicious picnic to enjoy with this wonderful landscape. We will visit the archaeological remains of Pisaq and return to Ollantaytambo at the end of the afternoon.
Overnight in Ollantaytambo

DAY 06: OLLANTAYTAMBO. TRAIN TO MACHU PICCHU

Today we will have free time to enjoy the citadel of Ollantaytambo and the fortress* that guards the small Inca origin town, the valley, the river, and the narrow streets; and get a clear idea of how was this military, religious and cultural center during the Inca Empire. The cobbled streets with houses and tiled roofs are endearing.
In the afternoon, we will take the train to Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu from the Ollantaytambo train station. The trip last approximately. 1:45 h. Aguas Calientes is at the base of the mountain on which the sacred city of Machu Picchu is located.
* Admission ticket to the fortress included in the BTC (Cusco Tourist Ticket).

Our destination, Machu Picchu, still keeps many mysteries. Nowadays we know from archaeological research that most likely it was a place of sacred and religious nature built by the Inca Pachacutec. It was dedicated to the surrounding mountains, mainly the Salkantay Mountain and to astronomical observation which was very important in the pre-Columbian Peru. Archaeological findings show significant presence of female remains, possibly priestesses.
The sophisticated carved stones, architecture and engineering, are a supreme expression of the Incas technological achievements. Excavations go on and every day we discover something new about this unique place. People think that somewhere in the city the tomb of Pachacutec (the most important ruler of the Incas) can be found.
Overnight in Aguas Calientes

DAY 07: MACHU PICCHU. TRAIN TO CUSCO. OPTIONAL HUAYNAPICCHU

From Aguas Calientes we will take a bus to the citadel of Machu Picchu ascending 400 m using a zigzag road for about 30 minutes. We will arrive at the sanctuary of Machu Picchu where we will have a guided tour (Approx. 2 hours). We will visit the Main Square, the Circular Tower, the Sacred Sundial, the Royal Quarters, the Temple of the Three Windows and the cemeteries; then we will still have time to explore the archaeological site at our own leisure.
In the afternoon we will take the bus back to Aguas Calientes where we will have a meal at a local restaurant (not included). A specific hour and a meeting point will be set in the town of Aguas Calientes where we will board the train back to Cusco. In the afternoon we will board the train back to Cusco*. We will arrive to Poroy station and transfer to your hotel.
* Budget option taking the train to Ollantaytambo and then a bus to Cusco Plaza del Regocijo.

Optional Huaynapicchu: After the tour we will still have time to climb Huayna Picchu, the mountain overlooking Machu Picchu, which takes approximately 90 minutes to climb. Although it is not a difficult hike, it is necessary to be in good physical condition. Alternatively for another spectacular climb which is less steep, Machu Picchu Mountain offers incredible views.
Both also need permits to enter which need to be booked in advance. Please do let us know if you would like to pre-purchase these.
Overnight in Cusco

DAY 08: CUSCO / PUNO BUS

Early in the morning, you will be picked up from the hotel to the bus station. We will depart to Puno at 7:30 am, on a tourist bus with onboard service. The trip takes eight hours, but our stops and the passages that we take will make this a fun and rewarding day trip; this route fills our hearts with landscape and history. We will have guided tours to the Pukara museum; we will pass through La Raya (highest point of the journey at 4,335 m. above sea level), the archaeological complex of Raqchi and the Andahuaylillas temple. We will arrive to the city of Puno (3,800 m. above sea level).
If it is a dry season, from April to August, there may be very cold in the mornings and freezing in the evenings.
You will be picked up at the bus station and transfer to the hotel.
Overnight in Puno

DAY 09: TITICACA LAKE: UROS - LLACHON

This day we will visit the legendary Lake Titicaca, a gigantic portion of the sea captured to 3.965 meters above the sea level, making it the highest navigable lake in the world.
In the morning, we will go to the port of Puno (3,800 m above sea level). At 7:30 am we will start our journey by motor boat that will allow us to see the vastness and beauty of Lake Titicaca.

The first destination will be the Uros floating islands and their community, one of the oldest in the continent. Although today it is said that little remains of the original Uros, their descendants have certainly known preserved techniques to twist and shape the reeds (“Totora”) as a remarkable cultural legacy. With them they create huge floating islands on which their homes, schools and medical centers are built.

We will continue the journey to the Llachon Capachica community on the peninsula. Llachon villagers belong to the Quechua ethnic and live off cattle activities, farming and fishing. They are also recognized for their textile art skills.
Unlike other areas more indulged by conventional tourism, Llachon and neighboring communities have managed to keep a high quality model of Community Base Tourism. Families welcome visitors in their simple but warm homes, rustic and safe rooms decorated with textiles from the area and built with adobe using traditional techniques. Visitors are invited to get involved in family activities. You can do some hiking, mountain biking and also kayaking (not included, see supplements). Dinner with the host family, small meeting and cultural exchange
Overnight in a host family home

DAY 10: LLACHON – PUNO

After breakfast we could enjoy the traditional weavers’ art or we could take kayaks for a 2 hours tour around Lake Titicaca Optional). Depending on the time, we could go back to the hosting family to have lunch before going back by boat to the city of Puno.
After picking up your luggage at the hotel, we will go to the airport in Juliaca to take the flight back to Lima.
Overnight in Puno

DAY 11: PUNO – JULIACA - LIMA. OPTIONAL SILLUSTANI CHULPAS

On our way to the airport to take the flight to Lima we could, optionally, visit the Archaeological Complex of Sillustani, one of the largest cemeteries in the world where we will find the Chulpas: large stone funerary towers built by the Incas and the Qollas ethnic group (inhabitants of the lake before the Incas), to bury their dead.
They are surrounded by a landscape of stunning beauty that seems to be summed up in the serene waters of the lagoon Umayo.
We will take the flight to Lima. Transfer to the Hotel.
Overnight in Lima

DAY 12: INTERNATIONAL DEPARTURE

A driver will pick you up from the hotel to take you to the Jorge Chavez Airport for the internatonal flight.

Included / Not IncludedWhat Makes this Trip Responsible?

Included:
. Local flights
. Reception and transfer from/ to airport or bus terminals.
. Tourist Bus to Puno/Cusco
. Expedition Train to Machu Picchu
. Entries to each archaeological site and/or natural reserve
. Official local guide
. All meals included in the program
. BTG (Cusco Tourist Ticket)
. Local flight boarding pass printed (and International flight if locator is sent).
. Follow up phone service and 24 hours emergency phone

Local Services – We engage locally-owned and operated services thereby supporting local people and not using long and carbon-intensive supply chains.

Local Transport – We use local public transport wherever we can to reduce fuel usage per passenger.

Local Food and Local Goods – We endeavour to include and strongly encourage our travellers to eat locally produced food and goods. This reduces the ’embodied energy’.

Water Bottles – We encourage our passengers to refill a water bottle from water ‘bubblers’ where available to avoid unnecessary purchasing of bottled water and the subsequent waste disposal issues.

Economic Empowerment – Economic empowerment of local communities through tourism can help improve education and health services, water supplies and sanitation and reduce dependence on non-sustainable livelihoods.

Local Employment – We use local leaders and guides so that we learn about the culture and way of life directly from those who live it and put money into local hands and economies. We can particularly learn from indigenous rural communities about their relationship to the land and how they’ve practiced sustainable agriculture for centuries.